Kurt Baker (musician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kurt Baker
Background information
Origin Portland, Maine, USA
Genres Alternative rock, rock, power pop, punk rock, indie rock, indie pop
Instruments Vocals, Bass, Guitar
Years active 2000–present
Labels Oglio, Jolly Ronnie Collector's Club
Associated acts The Leftovers, The Kurt Baker Band, Wimpy & the Medallions, The Desires
Website http://www.kurtbakermusic.com/
Notable instruments
bass

Kurt Milton Baker (born January 31, 1987 in Portland, Maine) is an American musician, songwriter, music producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for his work in the Pop-Punk group The Leftovers and his own band The Kurt Baker Band.

Kurt Baker has released several solo projects with his Power Pop group The Kurt Baker Band, who play punk rock music inspired by pop tunes of the 1960s and 1970s. Baker was the founding member, bass player, singer & songwriter of the notable pop/punk outfit The Leftovers, who formed in 2002 and released several records on Rally Records, Insubordination Records and Oglio Records. The group toured all over the United States, Europe and Canada throughout 2006 to 2010 before breaking up.

Baker’s blend of Beach Boys and The Beatles styled melodies have earned him the praise of Larry Livermore (founder of Lookout Records), Ben Weasel (Screeching Weasel) and Jaret Reddick (Bowling For Soup). After the release of The Leftovers' last album, 2009's Eager to Please on Oglio Records, which featured guest ranging from Brett Anderson (The Donnas)) to Coz Canler (The Romantics), and an extensive tour of the US and Europe, Baker decided to focus on going solo.[1] Baker’s debut solo EP “Got It Covered” was released [2] on Oglio Records. Produced by Los Angeles based pop producer, Linus of Hollywood, “Got It Covered” features Baker’s take on some of his favorite Power Pop songs of the 70’s and 80’s and features guest Kay Hanley (Letters To Cleo) and Adam Marcello(Katy Perry). Baker has also worked with Tommy Dunbar (the Rubinoos), Kim Shattuck (the Muffs), and Parry Gripp (Nerf Herder).

After a tour of Europe in the fall of 2010, backed by Italian Power Pop band, The Radio Days, Baker began focusing on taking his act back to the USA. A brief stint of shows throughout the Midwest brought together a group of musicians featuring Mike Bryne (the Methadones), Wyatt Funderburk (Second Saturday), Geoff Useless (The Guts) & Craig Sala (Planeside), to make up the Kurt Baker Band. By January 2011, Baker had recruited longtime friends Josh Malia (The Taxis, Hi Fivin White Guys) and Kris Rodgers (Goodnight Process) into the fold.

They soon returned to the studio to record the new album “Rockin’ For A Living”. The album was released in October 2011 and was critically acclaimed as the Number #1 (Power Pop) record of the year by writers (David Bash)[3] founder of the (International Pop Overthrow) festival and music critic/author (John M. Borack)[4] in (Goldmine Magazine). The (Kurt Baker Band) toured across Western Europe playing sold out shows in Spain and Italy in support of “Rockin For A Living’” and enlisted Adam Cargin who drummed on albums by (Screeching Weasel) and (the Riverdales).

2012 saw the recording of the EP “Want You Around” on (Jolly Ronnie Records), which featured guest appearances by (Dan Vapid) and (Rev. Nørb). Following the release of “Want You Around”, and tours of the Midwest and East Coast (supporting acts such as (Tommy Stinson) and (The Offspring), Kurt and the gang prepared to release the follow up to “Rockin’ for a Living”, a ambitious 10 song LP titled “Brand New Beat”, an album that was produced and recorded by Wyatt Funderburk and to be released on Geoff Palmer and Kurt’s new independent label (Collector’s Club Records) on Oct. 30th 2012. Vinyl of “Brand New Beat” will be released in the USA by (Jolly Ronnie Records) and in Europe by (Torrezentes Entertainment). More tours of Europe and the United States have been planned into 2013 to support the record.

In addition to his band based activities, Kurt Baker is a disc jockey of vinyl records around New England area spinning 60's Garage, New Wave, Power Pop and Soul music.

He is also an occasional contributor to Amp Magazine and works for the Portland Public Library in Portland, Maine.

Discography

Solo

  • Girl's Got Money (2013) (Collector's Club Records)
  • Brand New Beat (2012) (Collector's Club Records)
  • Want You Around (2012) (Jolly Ronnie Records)
  • For Spanish Ears Only - Outtakes and Demos - Spanish ONLY Release (2011) (Rumble Records)
  • Rockin' for a Living (2011) (Oglio Records)
  • Got it Covered (2010) (Oglio Records)
  • Hanging On the Telephone/ Pump It Up (2010) (Oglio Records)

With The Leftovers

  • Eager to Please (2009) (Crappy/Oglio Records)
  • Single Series Volume 21 (2007) (EP) (Art Of The Underground)
  • On The Move (2007) (Rally Records)
  • Insubordination Fest 2007 (2008) (Live) (Insubordination Records)
  • Steppin' On My Heart (2006) (EP) (Rally Records)
  • Party Tonight! (2006) (Cheapskate Records)
  • Stop Drop Rock N Roll (2004) (Muscle City Records)
  • Mitton Street Special (2003) (EP) (Zuke'd On Phonics)

References

  1. ↑ http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=139810
  2. ↑ http://oglio.com/kurt-baker-dont-steal-my-heart-away
  3. ↑ Bash, David. "My "Best of 2011" Lists". 
  4. ↑ Borack, John. "John M. Borack's Top 20 Pop Picks of 2011". 

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.